Children need families .. there is no adequate substitute for the
love of your own mother and your own father. Sometimes families run into problems. Young
parents can lack the expertise and knowledge to meet their childrens needs,
especially if they did not have that all important love and attention when they were
growing up. Unemployment, poverty and poor housing can put stresses on a family.

Family
breakdown might follow child abuse or domestic violence which may have
been preventable. Drinking, gambling or emotional and mental illness can
make it impossible for a family to cope without help. We provide that help to families in crisis,
families which have broken down and to parents and children whose lives are falling apart.

Why work with families?

When children are emotionally disturbed by family stresses or when mothers find it hard
to cope and care for a child - one answer is to provide alternative care, to take the
child out of the family. But working with the child alone is only seeing part of the
problem. Children cannot be cared for in isolation - mothers and fathers need to be
supported and helped to build their parenting skills -

We provide a community based package of
support under the umbrella of which, families can learn together how to live happily and securely. We are
able to perform intensive assessment, family rehabilitation treatment and
follow up ensuring continued support.

Case histories - examples of treatment programmes-

The Carter family had been separated. Both parents were alcoholic and had
marital problems. The twelve year old son was depressed and not coping at school. The baby
had been removed to a childrens home for failing to thrive.

Their residential care involved an intensive alcohol treatment programme, individual
therapy for the parents and older child, couples sessions to work on the marriage and
family sessions to work on family roles and relationships. Remedial education and
assessment was provided for the son and the babys developmental progress was
monitored and assisted in play therapy time.

With the family working together in a stable nurturing environment the childs
developmental scales improved dramatically from a developmental quotient of 75 on
admission to 95 three months later.

The Lang family - a sad young family where mother and father married at 16 and
had two children very soon afterwards. She had an eating disorder and was very depressed.
Admission followed an incident of near infanticide. The family were rehabilitated in a
very structured and supportive programme. Parents were helped to understand family
stresses and bulimia for which a specific programme was drawn up.

Sandra - had problems coping with a toddler and young baby. She had
ambivalent feelings towards their father and a very low opinion of herself. When depressed
she harmed herself. She had been sexually abused by her deceased father. Treatment centred
on her own unresolved feelings and abuse while supporting and rebuilding the family
structure.